In Times of Peril A Tale of India

ddenly that phantom-like troop halted and dismounted. The rest was like a dream; in an instant they were seized, bound, and gagged, and laid

rs, whom the moonlight now showed to be white, instead of cutting their throats as they expected, li

stle, there was another halt. The troop dismounted, led their horses some little distance from the road, and tied them to the trees. Twenty men remained as a guard. Four of the others wrapped themselves up so as to appear at a short distance like natives, and took their places at the bullocks' heads, and the r

ust have been aided by their father. Ah, treachery!" he cried, as, the first cart moving into

ore he could be reached. Then the British leaped from the carts, and twenty of them scattered through the works, cutting down those who offered resistance and disarmi

he drawbridge over the moat, for the gateway, to which they attached the petards which they had brought with them. Then they ran back to the main body, who stood awaiting the explosion. In a few seconds it came, and then with a cheer the troops dashed across the drawbridge, and in through the splintered ga

made his way straight to it, and had the delight of being greeted by the voices of his countrymen and women. These were, as re

dy for starting, Major Warrener proceeded to the door of the women's apartments. Here, in obedience to the order he had sent her

you off as hostage. But he will not do this. The Rajah of Bithri is a brave man, but he is wrong to fight against fate. The English Raj will prevail again, and all who have rebelled will be punished. We treat him as a brave but mistaken enemy; and as we ha

issue from its walls. Then a horseman took the news on to the camp. The artillery, increased now to thirty-six guns, had already opened upon the village ere he reached the great tent on the plain. The rajah could not credit the intelligence that the enemy had escaped, that his castle had been attacked and carried, and the white prisoners released; but his surprise and fury were overpowered by the delight he

rsemen set off in pursuit; but it was six o'clock now, and the fugitives had got seven hours' start. The Rajah of Bithri's contingent took no part in the pursuit. On issuing from his tent he had, after tell

. Pearson and her sister, the former the wife of a district magistrate, who had been absent on duty when the rising at the little station at which they lived took place; and of Captain Harper and Lieutenant Jones, who were the officers of the detachment there. The men, native cavalry, had ridden off without injuring their officers, but the fanatical people of the place had killed many of the residents and fired their bungalows. Some had escaped on horseback or in carriages; and the present party, keeping together, had, when near Bithri, been seized and brought in to the chief, who intended to take them with him to Lucknow, wh

er called his officers into council, to determine what was the best course to adopt under the circumstances. Should they dash through the lines of th

the intrenchments against any assault that the enemy could make, and that if forced to surrender it would probably be from want of supplies. In that case the arrival of a hundred men would be a source of weakness rather than of strength. The reinforcement would not be of sufficient strength to enable the garrison, incumbered as it w

for sleep, they could distinctly hear the dull, faint sounds that told of a heavy artillery fire. At which of the stations, or if at both, the firing was going on, they c

It was agreed, too, that they should, at the first village they passed through that evening, question the inhabitant

bodies of Sepoys on the line by which they proposed to travel, but that most of the talookdars were preparing to march to Lucknow and Cawnpore, when the British were destroyed. Having thus learned that

n rearguard-that is to say, they rode together some

from his horse, his head wrapped in a thick cloth, and his arms bound. Then he could feel himself lifted up and rapidly carried off. After a time he was put on his legs and the covering of his head removed. He found Ned beside him; and a word of congratulation that both were

their way, as the boom of the guns sounded sharper and clearer every mile that they traveled. Ned gathered from the talk that their capture was the effect of pure accident. The party had sat down in the wood to eat, when they heard a troop of horsemen passing. A word or two spoken in English as the leaders came along sufficed

n; but the boys had heard that after pretending to be the friend of the whites, he was now leading the assault against them, and that

e trying to mak

pointed to watch us. Don't you see they are sitting with their

daylight. The fire was made up, and the men wrapped themselves in their cloths-the native of India almost invariably sleeps with his head covered, and looking more like a corpse than a living being. Anxiously the boys w

r-a rush of some great body passing over them-a scream of one of the natives-a yell of terror from the rest. A tiger stood with one of the guards in his mo

ible presence, and then, getting to their feet, started off at full speed. For a moment the boys had la

ently they struck on a track leading through the wood, and followed it, until in five minutes they emerged at the other side. As they did so they heard the report of firearms in the direction of their last halting-place, and guessed that the peasants were firing at hazard, in hopes of frightening the tiger into dropping his prey. As to their own flight, it was probable that so

do now, Ned? These uniforms will betray us to the fi

chance. This is evidently the main road to Cawnpore, and, judging from the guns, we cannot be more than ten or twelve miles away. It will not do to go back alo

e before they reached them; these they avoided by a detour, as the dogs would be sure to arouse the inhabitants, and it was only in a solitary abode that they had a chance of being shelter

round for us they will never look inside there; and I expect that there is a garden, and we are sure to find

oner we carry it out the better, for in

STOOD, WITH ONE OF TH

NG FIE

mbed, got along a branch which extended over the top of the wall, and thence dropped into the garden. Here there were pavilions and fountains, and well

y awoke, roused by the sound of laugh

claimed; "we have got i

figure was a young woman of some twenty-two or twenty-three, and

o," Ned whisper

ar more favorably inclined toward a British fugitive than a Mohammedan would be likely to do, as the triumph of the re

bly been her nurse, and was now her confidante and a

p our garden, and go into Cawn

sist on your highness showing your devotion to the cause by taking up your residence

ee look

ittle children there," she said, "and that

, and the old regiments, are fifty to one against them, and the

en, the Eng

f the party had taken their seats in a pavilion clo

alk to Dick, and both agreed that t

and would rather talk quietly with her chief friend and adviser, the att

red suddenly at the entrance to the pavilion, where they fel

dy, have pity up

to their feet with a little screa

stly; "we are alone and friendless;

t here?" asked

he ladies' garden, or we might not have invaded it; now we bless Pro

hed lightly be

mere boy

rous for you to shelter boys as men. And what will

the ranee said coaxingly; "and I could not give them

nrewarded even here. Soon, very soon, an English army will be at Cawnpore to punish

army will come soon?"

nglish Raj is

is besieged, and an army is gathering at Allahabad to march hither. It may be quickly; it may be slowly; but in the end the English rule will be restored, her enemies will be destroyed, and her friend

e laughe

"but you have learned to flatter

themselves again; then we will go in, and I will call in your attendants. Later, when it is dusk, you will plead heat, and come ou

aid. "You have heard, young sahibs; retire now, an

the lads again took refuge in the shrubs, d

something to eat, Ned. I am as hungry as a

n minutes the ranee and her confidante made their appearance. The former took her seat on the couch in the pavilion, the latter remained outside th

," she said; "then if we should be sur

in the long folds of cotton which form the principal garment of n

laughed

aid. "Ahrab, do arrange the

over their heads, so that it could, if necessa

saying to Ahrab, "It is very hot, and they are only boys," removed the veil

natives, I think," Ned said; "we have don

want to know who you are, and how you came

lhi, and then the ranee insisted upon an acco

o wonder your men have conquered India. Now, A

ie a piece of red cloth to the horns of the bullock; you will come up and get in. He will ask no questions, but will drive you to the ranee's. I will open the door to you and take you up to a little room where you will not be disturbed. We shall all start first. You cannot go with us, because the other women will wonder who you are. Here is some stuff to dye your faces and hands. I will let you out

and himself, the ranee coquettishly held out a little hand whose size and shape an Englishwoman might have e

h the native impudence of a midshipman, "and I

e say?" she

hings we on shore would not venture to say. My

laughing, "and I have a good mind to hand him ove